We were treated to some lovely weather again this bank holiday weekend, and we were particularly thankful as our new sister site RSPB St Aidan’s opened on Saturday! The wildlife must have been enjoying the sunshine too and there was plenty about for visitors to see.
This year’s BBC Springwatch has kicked off and we’ve had some lovely spring moments on the reserve too. Beki spotted a robin fledgling in the car park, flapping about and having food delivered by mum and dad. We’ve also seen a juvenile siskin on the feeders in the wildlife garden today. As far as we know, this is the first time siskins have bred here at Fairburn Ings so it’s pretty exciting! This is due to the late arrival of spring which has delayed lots of our wildlife this year. Graham, one of our volunteers managed to get this great pic of the young siskin:
We can now confirm that avocets are nesting on one of the islands in Main Bay! It has been a while since they’ve nested here on the reserve so this is some more great news. Also on the bay we’ve had little ringed plovers, a pair of garganey and a couple of Arctic terns. Down by the Cut there has been a pair of oystercatchers seen with their young and also two pied wagtails.
On Saturday morning a bittern was spotted at the back of Pick-up and one has been heard down towards Lin Dike. A juvenile heron has also been seen at Pick-up, the first to be spotted so far from our heronry. Elsewhere on the reserve, we’ve had a spotted flycatcher near the boardwalk and yellow wagtails at Lin Dike.
We’re getting more sightings of dragonflies and damselflies such as a four-spotted chaser, azure damselflies and large red damselflies. There are plenty of butterflies about as well including small coppers, large whites, holly blues and orange tips.
Mammal wise, a roe deer with a fawn was seen at the North Flashes on Tuesday, and we’ve had a stoat seen at the Kingfisher screen earlier in the week.